Retained radial artery catheter fragment

It is estimated that 8 million arterial lines are placed in the United States yearly, with a low incidence of complications reported as less than 1% Gardner RM. (Direct arterial pressure monitoring. Curr Anaesth Crit Care 1990;1:239-46.), Scheer B, Perel A, Pfeiffer UJ. (Clinical review: complications and risk factors of peripheral arterial catheters used for haemodynamic monitoring in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. Crit Care 2002;6:199-204.) Fracture of a radial arterial catheter is a very rare complication of radial arterial line placement or removal, with surgical removal of a retained catheter fragment being reported infrequently in the literature. We report the first occurrence of this complication at our institution, with proximal migration of the retained catheter fragment, requiring surgical removal. This case serves to reinforce the care and attention to detail required in the placement, securing of and removal of radial arterial lines.